Batik Printing

Introduction–

This form of textile art wherein cloth piece is decorated by covering it with coat of wax and to die. This art has derived its name from the word -Batik wax writing. The batik printing has-been handed down to different generations and still main source of livelihood for people living in Dutch.  The Batik are featuring three-dimensional look with motifs which are traditional design featuring folk screens, deities, birds, flowers, bees, leaves and other complex geometrical designs. These prints give an impression that the fabric have imbibed the colors of universe and patterns of nature.

Usage-The Batik printing textile has gone long way back in time. This craft has allowed the artisans to express their creativity freely as design an are drawn on the fabric.  This craft is significant from colors to motifs being used to make this craft popular not only in east but also in west. The Batik prints are used for making fabrics for tribal communities. Over the years, the artisans have included the batik contemporary patterns to maintain the popularity and significance. Batik prints consists of colourful designs which can be seen on several countless products. These prints are used on differs a variety of products that enhances appearance and beauty. Batik prints are an essential part of native communities. Khaki community wear Batik salwars which were hand stitched by them. Men used to wear batik printed handkerchief as turbans. Batik printed cotton and silk sarees are extremely popular in masses. Artisans used batik prints for stitching different apparel like salwar, sarees Kurta and many more. These apparels are quite popular and sold all over the country.  The batik prints cloth cab be used and incorporated into any kind of clothing – be it Indian or western.

Colors used on these prints are vibrant and extremely vivid, and it is hard to believe that these are made with wax and dye. Batik cloth was made for dresses and tailored garments, but only modern batik is livelier and brighter in form of murals, wall hangings, paintings, household linens. They are being introduced as sustainable source of livelihood. The market has increased in last decade and there are more product diversification one can see in furnishings, fabric and paintings. Embroidery, beads and mirror are used to make it more attractive.

Significance-There are different and interesting technique attached to batik fabric. This fabric is known for durability, and it has color fastness than primed fabrics because through the during process, the fabric absorbs the color so well that it does not easily fade. One can witness that mass production of batik with machines. There is considerable market for high quality cloth. It started out as decoration for royals, but now it is used on formal occasions in office. It is the most significant handicrafts of India.  The designs are inspired by architecture in Mundra. Mundra artists have inspired by several aspects with environment; culture.

Designs –

Batik prints consists of·       

Black·       

Red·       

White

Batik prints include designs.

• Flowers
•  Lions·
• Fish·,
• Moon· and
• Folk tales· 

Culture -The prints of Mundra were known to use dyes only. The chemical dyes allowed the artisans to explore and work with different colors. But due to growing demand of eco-friendly and skin friendly colors, shift to natural dyes were expected.

Myths – As Batik printing is practiced in not only in different parts of India but also different parts of the world, it is surrounded by countless myths and legends associate with it. The batik printing is Indonesia is consisting of ritualistic connection. There are certain objects like flowers, trees and birds have significant meaning. There is different batik being used –

• SWAT – Decorative form of Garuda, Lord Vishnu bird·       
• Multi means happiness and prosperity·       
• Batik by hand is practiced in Sri Lanka·   
• Batik printing in Malaysia and Thailand is created on large scale. · This printing is popular in African countries.

History –

Batik printing has come from Indonesian word Am batik – amba means to write and tik means Dot or print.  This means cloth with little dots or wax writing. This is inspired by women who used to adorn the Hindi which feature usage of wax. Khaki community in Gujarat know to be original artisans of Batik printing. Vegetable colors and natural dyes see used to reduce costs and create do friendly source of production. Design -The designs use on Batik printed cloth is used as per significance, popularity and usage.  The designs used are perfect mix of contemporary and tradition with motifs and colors. The design feature mix of contemporary and tradition. The designs also feature geometric patterns and free flow designs. The gods are depicted in indigo, white and brown colors such as Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva.

Challenges:

The interesting feature about the batik printing is demand and market had not decreased. There are now improved facilities for waxing, bleaching and washing the fabric. This technique has led to the process becoming less cumbersome. It is time-consuming and detailed technique of decorating fabric by hand. As any handicraft, this requires tremendous amount of practice and patience. This also include increase in price of raw materials, wastage of water. Continuous attempts are being done to make this process eco-friendly and sustainable.  The designs on the Mundra prints are replicated by screen and laser prints. They produce this textile in bulk at less expensive cost. To stay in the with changing time, these artists are incorporating modern motifs and paraffin wax.  Dutch Batik is becoming sustainable and adaptive art.